Monopolar vacuum-tube.



P. A. DAVIS.

MONOPOLAR VACUUM TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1909.

Patented Mar.,1,1910.

FRANK A. DAVIS, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MoNoroLAa VACUUM-TUBE.

FMM JILQ.

speciflcationof Letters Patent.

Application filed March 15, 1909. SerialNo. 483,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, FRANK A. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Tmprovement in Monopolar Vacuum-Tubes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a monopolar vacuum tube especially designed and adapted among other uses to be employed for the treatment of pathological conditions in the mouth, rectum and vagina, such as cancerous conditions, hypertrophied glands, adhesions, exudates, inflammatory disturbances, etc.

The invention has for its object to provide a vacuum tube (3 the character described with Which the benefits of the combined effects of high frequency currents and the X-rays may be obtained in close proximity to the diseased part. To this end I employ a vacuum tube having at one end a head of such size as will permit of its insertion into the orifice of the body to be treated, and at its opposite end an enlarged vacuum chamber, which is connected with the head by a neck portion of smaller diameter than the head, so that the latter forms a chamber of larger diameter or area in cross section than said intermediate neck portion,

which chamber for the purpose of this in-v gention may be designated the X-ray chamy The vacuum tube contains within it a conductor, such as a fine wire which terminates at or near the junction of the neck portion with the X-ray chamber, and preferably terminates in a small concaved metal disk or button, which is arranged transversely of the.

urpose as will be described.-

will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is an elevation of an instrument embodying this invention, and Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the instrument shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the vacuum tube herein shown comprises a main vacuum chamber in the form of a bulb a, a neck portion 6 extended therefrom". of substantially small diameter, and a head 0 of larger diameter than said neck, yet sufficiently small to enter the mouth or other cavity containing the part or parts to be treated.

The neck portion 6 has located in it an electric conductor d, preferably a fine wire, which terminates in a metallic button or disk 6 at or near the junction of the neck with the head 0, said button or disk being arranged transversely of the head 0 and hav ing a substantially flat shank f of a width substantially equal to the diameter of the neck portion 6 to be supported thereby, while afiording communication between said neck and head. The conductor (Z as herein shown is extended to the outside of the vacuum tube through the main chamber a, and is connected with a suitable source of supply of a current of high frequency.

The head 0 may and preferably will contain within it a meta-l plate or target 10, preferably inclined or curved with relation to a line through the center of the disk or button 6, so as to be struck by the cathode stream from the button or disk and ofier resistance to said cathode stream whereby strong X-rays are developed in the tubular head 0 and projected laterally therefrom, and which may be directed and concentrated upon the part to be treated by turning the vacuum tube so that the target 10 is oppo- Patented Mar. 1, 1910-.

site the part to be treated, with which the head 0 makes contact, so that the patient becomes the opposite pole of the instrument in the development of the X-rays.

It may be preferred to employ the target 10, in order to develop the X-rays of max mum strength but it 'is not desired to limit the invention in this respect, as the glass of the head a when curved at its end as herein shown so as to cross the flow of the cathode ed. The tube having the curved wall 16 without the target 10, may be used in mild current on the cathode or button 6 and in the head 0, thereby increasing the efliciency of the instrument.

In operation with the instrument herein shown, the conductor al is properly connected with the source of supply of current, and the head 0 is inserted into the cavity with the target 10 or the curved end portion 16 of the said head substantially opposite the part of the body to be treated, with which the head 0 makes contact. As above explained, the current from the terminal disk or button 0 passes longitudinally of the head 0, impinges upon the target 10 or in the absence of the latter against the curved portion 16 of the head, and develops X-rays which are directed upon the part being treated, with beneficial results, as has been demonstrated in actual practice, a strong X-ray being developed when the target is used.

In addition to the above mentioned uses to which the instrument may be put with highly satisfactory results, it is also capable of being used, when exhausted to the proper vacuum to develop X-rays, which will fluoresce a bright green when in contact with the tissues, and which can be used on a resonator or high frequency electrical apparatus to cause a fluoriscope to become illuminated sufliciently, if the fiuoriscope is in good condition, to enable one to see shadows of bones of the hands and other parts of the body.

The vacuum chamber a is made of suflicient size to take care of the gases given off by the metal wire d, due to the heat developed when the tube is in use, and thereby maintain the vacuum at the desired high point, notwithstanding said gases.

In the present instance I have shown one construction of instrument with which highly satisfactory results have been obtained, but I do not desire to limit the invention to the particular construction herein shown.

Claims.

1. In an instrument of theclass described, in combination, a yacuum tube comprising a vacuum chamber afone end, a head or chamber at the other end sufiiciently small to enter a cavity in the body of the patient, and an intermedlate neck portion of smaller diameter than said head and connecting the latter with said vacuum chamber, a conductor in said neck portion extended to the outside of) the instrument and terminatin near the junction of the said neck and hea in a button or disk, a target located near the end of the said head in line with the said button or disk and separated therefrom, and a sleeve inclosing the said neck portion, substantially as described.

2. In an instrument of the class described, in combination, a vacuum tube having at one end a head of a size to permit it to be inserted into a cavity of the body and having a narrower portion communicating with said head, a target located in said head substantially in line with the said narrower portion, and a conductor in the said narrower portion terminating out of contact with said target, substantially as described.

3. In an instrument of the class described, in combination, a vacuum tube having at one end a head of a size to permit it to be inserted into a cavity of the body and having a narrower portion communicating with said head, a conductor in said narrower portion terminating out of contact with the end of said head and a target within said head inclined with relation to said conductor, substantially as described.

4. In an instrument of the class described, in combination, a vacuum tube having at one end a substantially large vacuum chamber, and at its other end a head of a size sulficiently small to permit it to be inserted into a cavity in the body, and an intermediate neck portion of smaller diameter than said head joining the latter with said wicuum chamber, a conductor extended through the said vacuum chamber to the outside thereof and through said neck portion and terminating in proximity to the junction of the head with said neck portion, and a target within said head inclined with relation to said conductor, substantially as described.

5. An instrument of the class described, in combination, a vacuum tube having at one end a substantially large vacuum chamber, and at its other end a head of a size sufiiciently small to permit it to be inserted into a cavity in the body, an intermediate neck portion of smaller diameter than said head oining the latter with said vacuum chamber, a conductor extended through the said vacuum chamber to the outside thereof and through said neck portion and terminatin in proximity to the junction of the head with said neck portion, a target within said head inclined with relation to said conductor, and a sleeve surrounding said neck portion and separated therefrom by a space, substantially as described.

6. In an instrument of the class described,

in combination, a vacuum tube having a head of a size to permit it to be inserted into a cavity of the body, and a neck portion of smaller diameter than said head communicating therewith, a conductor in said tube extended through said neck portion and name to this specification in the presence of terminating in proximity tosaid head, and two subscribing Witnesses. a target located in said head nearits outer end substantially in line With and inclined FRANK DAVIS 5 to said conductor and separated-therefr0m,' Witnesses:

substantially as described. WILLIAM R. RICHARDS,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my I JAMES R. MURPHY. 

